Natalie Jayne and Cracker Jack Claim Small Junior Hunter 15 and Under Championship

Cracker Jack, piloted and owned by 14-year-old Natalie Jayne, earned the champion title in the Small Junior Hunter 15 and Under division to highlight hunter competition on Saturday.

Jayne, of Elgin, IL, won the under saddle and jumped to two firsts and a second-place ribbon aboard Cracker Jack, an 11-year-old Warmblood gelding. She has had the ride since June of 2017 and the pair recently competed under lights in the International Arena at WEF for the first time in the $100,000 WCHR Peter Wetherill Palm Beach Hunter Spectacular two weeks ago.

Natalie Jayne and Cracker Jack

“He has been a really good horse for me,” said Jayne, who trains under the direction of her mother, Lynn Jayne, at Our Day Farm based in Elgin, IL, and Wellington, FL. “He was a little green when we got him, but he has gotten really good over the last few months and even better this circuit.”

Jayne’s current goal for Cracker Jack is to stay consistent, saying, “He went right around in the Spectacular his first time jumping at night, and then we gave him a week off. Then he came out great and was really good every day this week and performed well. He’s good that way; he’s always going to perform, is always jumping well, and always brave.”

While also competing in the junior jumper and equitation ranks at WEF, Jayne hopes to qualify Cracker Jack for the Devon Horse Show and indoor hunter finals during the coming season.

Natalie Jayne and Cracker Jack

Reserve champion honors in the Small Junior Hunter 15 and Under division were presented to Inquisitive, ridden by Hallie Grimes and owned by Can We Keep It? LLC.

WEF 8 concludes on Sunday, March 4, with the $205,000 CSIO4* Grand Prix, presented by Lugano Diamonds and the championship for the Children’s Hunter Older division.